Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-29

massing in front Anon Franklin discovered
heavy columns on his right. By this mastery
Confederate tactics the corps commanders
were kept expecting an attack all day, and
prevented from sending aid to Porter.
Again, at sunset, Porter, still desperately
fighting, sent for help. Could it be sparedl
Mcclellan asked. Then Summer sent French's
and Thomas Francis Meagher's brigades, but
confessed that ho thought he was running
risk to do it.
The two brigades dashed across the bridges
and up the bluff toward Gaines Mill with a
shout and cheer, Meagher, the lively Irish
general, at :heir head in bis shirt sleeves, the
soldiers tell.
But then it was too late.
Porter's terribly cut up line had broken In
the center at last. The soldiers who had
fought so bravely and so long were rushing
pellmell toward the Chickahominy, in full
rout. The comrades who had come to save
them could only cover their retreat and stop
the Confederate pursuit.
1t was Hoods and McLaw's Texan brigades,
Of Writings division, that at last broke Fitz
John Porter's line. The regular and zouave
regiments did not break.
In the fight of Gaines Mill two regiments,
one of New Jersey, the other of Pennsylvania,
were surrounded and taken prisoners With
them was Brig. Gen. Reynolds.
Under the protection Of Meagher's and
French's brigades Porter's whole corps, what
was left of it, retreated to the south bank of
the Chickahominy. Some of his artillery
was left behind.
Thus one corps and division Of McClel
lan's army was made to fight more than two
thirds of the whole Confederate army around
Richmond. In this bloody battle Porter's
corps lost 6,000 men, killed, wounded and
prisoners; the Confederates, $500.
Morning found Fitz John Porter's corps
across the river, and the bridges destroyed
behindit Stoneman's and Emory's cavalry,
cut off from the rest of the corps, escaped by
the way Of White House and Yorktown, and
went down the York river and up the James
and rejoined the army of the Potomac.
During the Peninsula campaign the French
princes, the Due de Chartres and the Comte
de Paris, received thorough experience Of
American warfare They served as aides on
McClellan's staff, with the rank of captain,
from September, 1861, to the close Of the
seven days fighting They were the grand
sons of King Louis Philippe, and were the
same two princes that have been recently ex-
lied by the French government. With their
uncle, the Prince de Joinville, they followed
the fortunes of the army Of the Potomac.
They were brave, dashing young fellows
then, full of fun and merriment. They kept
up their own establishment, with their uncle,
who was very deaf. Some Of McClellan's
happiest hours were passed in their tent, in
those weary days.
At midnight after the disaster at Gaines
Mill Mcclellan sat in his tent and wrote to
Secretary Stanton q dispatch, the like Of
which was never sent by soldier to his ST.
pe-iors before: "If save this army now, l
tell you plainly that owe no thanks to you
or to any other persons in Washington. You
have done your best to sacrifice this army"
Then be announced to his officers his intention
to begin his march south to the James. At
daybreak he was at Savage station, on the
York and Richmond railroad, breaking camp
and preparing for the journey to the James.
By noon that day, June 2S, keyes' division
had crossed White Oak swamp and taken po-
sition OH the other side Of it to guard the pas
sage Of ammunition and provision trains.
Summers, Heintzelman's and part Of Frank
Inns corps were to remain on the Richmond
side of White Oak swamp, to cover the move
ment of retreat. 1t was well planned.
There was slight action on the morning
of the 18th 4 heavy Confederate artillery